Klinsmann happy after wind-blown 2-0 win over Azerbaijan at Candlestick

While far from an esthetic success – thanks to the tricky winds of Candlestick Park — the U.S. national soccer team’s first exhibition game produced a win and satisfied the coach.

“It was exactly what we needed after two fully loaded weeks of preparation at Stanford,’’ coach Jurgen Klinsmann said of the 2-0 win over Azerbaijan before a crowd of 24,688 Tuesday night.

Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski started at forward in place of Clint Dempsey, a late scratch because of a sore groin. Wondolowski had three fine chances in the first half, only to come up empty.

“The field was great, but the wind was playing havoc,’’ he said. “Even when the ball was the on the ground, it was tough.’’

Against the 85th ranked team in the world, the U.S. shot numerous blanks until subs Mix Diskerud and Aron Johannson, both of whom play professionally in Scandinavia, scored second-half goals.

It was the first of three exhibition matches the U.S. will play in the Send-Off Series. The team will play Turkey on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and Nigeria on June 7 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

Team USA had a 14-7 advantage in shots, and the visitors seemed content for much of the game to sit back and let the Yanks hog the scoring chances.

But Klinsmann said he was happy with the effort of his team. “They gave us a good game,’’ he said. “We needed to grind it out. We had to be patient. … It was tricky with the conditions. The wind was taking the ball all over the place, but everyone did fine.’’

Dempsey’s groin injury is “not serious at all – he just needs one or two days rest,’’ Klinsmann said.

It took 75 minutes for the U.S. to get on the board. Diskerud headed the ball to Michael Bradley, whose shot from just inside the box was stopped by defender Elvin Yunuszade just short of the goal line. The rebound, though, was pounded home by Diskerud, a 23-year-old midfielder who had entered the game four minutes earlier.

Diskerud, who made his mark in the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer, was given the No. 10 jersey that had been worn by Landon Donovan in the 2010 World Cup and by captain Claudio Reyna in the two previous World Cups. Klinsmann gave the impression that the number was not a big deal, but Diskerud said, “It’s an honor because a lot of great players have worn it.’’

Johannsson, 23, connected on a five-yard header off a corner kick by Brad Davis in the 81st minute.

Wondolowski nearly scored just four minutes into the game. His diving header off a free kick by Graham Zusi was saved by goalkeeper Kamran Aghayev.

“With a little bit of luck, he scores that header right away,’’ Klinsmann said.

Another Wondolowski header was thwarted by a leaping Aghayev and pushed over the crossbar in the 16th minute. In the 38th minute, he pushed his left-footed kick into the side of the net at short range.

“Even though on paper we probably should have run over them, it wasn’t easy,’’ said goalkeeper Tim Howard, whose 53rd win tied him with Kasey Keller for first place among U.S. keepers.